Srinagar: Liquor will now be available in Ladakh, where till now only beer, wine and ready-to-drink beverages were allowed for retail sale through shops, except in Leh where there was no partial ban.Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena has approved the new excise policy for the Union Territory, which aims to “check the increasing dependence on intoxicants and drugs in the Ladakh region and give people a wider choice of liquor with low alcohol content”.To improve accessibility and ensure regulated availability, 20 liquor shops will be opened through e-auction. Earlier, only two liquor shops were operational in Ladakh.A government statement said the new policy comes after extensive meetings with civil society organisations, NGOs, religious organisations, public representatives and officials in recent months.